Council adjusts ordinance covering day care services

VISTA — The Vista City Council this week unanimously approved several changes to its ordinance regulating at-home day care facilities to settle a lawsuit filed against the city two years ago.

The nonprofit San Diego County Family Child Care Association sued in 2008, saying the city’s ordinance violated state rules meant to promote family day care businesses. The suit came after a controversy between residents in Vista’s Shadowridge neighborhood and a woman who wanted to expand her at-home day care.

Among the changes are requirements that anyone wishing to operate a facility serving more than eight children must apply for a permit, and property owners within 100 feet of the proposed facility must receive notification and have 15 days to request a hearing to appeal the permit.

Previously, properties larger than 10,000 square feet were exempt from the city’s regulations.

Additionally, the city dropped a section from the ordinance requiring day care operators to fence in the children’s play area.

In other Vista council decisions, it approved spending $1.4 million of redevelopment money to buy a downtown property. The redevelopment agency is considering building a parking structure on the 3-acre property at 420 Lado de Loma Drive, which would serve the Paseo Santa Fe corridor. The council has purchased several parcels in the past few years to promote development along the corridor.